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HORSE COVER SUPPORT. No. 373,779. f Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

dama@ 7? R'Zlqy and TRM-7V," 920s UNITED STATES ATENT ritten@ ,THOMAS A. LONG, OF SWEET VALLEY, SAMUEL P. FILLEY, OF PITTSTON, AND FREDRIOK N. RUGGLES, OF LEHMAN, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID LONG AND FILLEY ASSIGNORS OF ONE-SIXTH OF THEIR RIGHT TO SAID BUG- GLES.

HORSE-COVER SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,779, dated November 22, 1887.

Application led August 4, 1F87. Serial No. 246.143. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THoMAs A. LONG, SAMUEL P. FILLEY, and FREDRIGK N. RUG- GLEs, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Sweet Valley, Pittston, and Lehman, in the order named, inthe county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Horse Covers or Umbrellas, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful'improvements in horse covers or umbrellas, the same being designed to be secured directly to the back of the horse and capable of being closed when notin use, and also of being readily opened or extended when it is desired to support a cover thereon 5 and the invention consists in the detailed construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective, showing our improved horse cover or umbrella as applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a view showing the same closed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof on the line x m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a series of detached perspective views, and Fig. 5 is 'an enlarged detail view.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a curved metallic back arch or strap, to the under surface of which are secured two pads, a a,of any preferred material,preferably leather, designed to conform to Ithe curvature of the back of the horse to which applied.

B is a belly band or strap secured at one end to one end of the back arch or strap A and provided at its otherfree end with an ordinary buckle, a', as shown. To the other end of the back arch or strap A is secured one end of an apertured strap, b, designed to engage with the -buckle a of the belly-band B, whereby said arch or strap can be securel y held on the horses back, as shown in Fig. l.

To the back-arch or plate A, near each end thereof, on its outer surface, are secured U- shaped plates or brackets b b', between the projecting iianges or ends of each of which are secured the `flanged ends of a second U -shaped plate or bracket, b, which is disposed opposite to the U-shaped plate or bracket b', as shown. These outer U shaped plates or brackets, b, are secured in position by means of two headed rods or pins, bIl b2, extending through apertures formed in the flanged ends of the plates or brackets b b", as shown.

B B' are two corresponding similarly-formed plates rigidly secured to the outer surfaces of the second U -shaped plates or brackets,b, the upper bent ends of which project a short distance beyond the upper ends of said U-shaped plates or brackets, and cach of said plates B is provided with an aperture at its upper end, as shown.

C is a series of bows or curved or arched plates connected together by cross-bars d, constructed after the form of lazy-tongs, as shown in Fig. l. These bows or curved or arched plates are designed, when opened, to conform, as far as necessary, to the general outline of the horsesback, those bows or plates toward the front being caused to have an outer inclined Surface to correspond with the horses neck, while thosein the rear are slightly curved upward the desired extent, and the last two bows or plates are again curved downward, the rearmost bow being caused to nearly as sume a horizontal position. One of these bows or plates O is, together with the ends of meeting cross-bars d d, secured to the upper ends of the plates B by means of rivets or small bolts passed through apertures therein and through the apertures of said plates, thus effecting a connection between the arch or plate A and the series of bows or plates C C.

To the ends of the inclined cross-bars d d', secured at their upper ends tothe bows or plates on either side of the bows or plates C, are pivotally connected the ends of a normally horizontal lever-arm, e, and a connecting-arm, c', each of vthe former being secured at its center and each of the latter at its rear end to the plate B', as shown. This lever-arm e has a projecting arm, with a locutor hanged end, e, designed, when the bows or -plates are opened or extended, to bear against the upper surface of the adjoining connecting-arm e', as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, whereby that portion of the cover or umbrella in rear of the back` IOO arch is prevented from having too much rearward movement, said flanged end of the leverarm e coming in contact with said connectingarm c when the cover or umbrella is opened its full extent.

All of the bows or plates C, save the front and the two rear ones, are secured to the crossbars d at their upper meeting ends, the ends of said bows or plates being extended down beyond the cross-bars comprising the lazytongs.

The forward bow or plate C is at each end connected to the outer free ends of two of the cross-bars d, as shown, as is also the rearmost bow or plate C, to which in turn is pivotally connected, in a manner similar to the other bows or plates, the bow or plate adjoining said rearmost one of the series. These bows or plates are connected at their centers by a thin strap,f, of leather, tape, or other suitable material.

In practice the back arch or plate A is placed on the horse to which it is designed to apply our invention, and is secured by means of the belly-band B and strap b, as shown, after which thc bows or plates comprising the cover or umbrella are extended or drawn out their full length, the lazy-tong connections between the same permitting the ready accom plishment thereof. \Vheu drawn to their full extent, so as to occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, the lever-arms c and the connectingarms e are in horizontal positions, causing the flanged ends of said lever-arms to bear on the upper edges of the arms c', as before stated, thus preventing any further movement of the bows or lazy-tong connections. The bows or plates comprising the cover or umbrella-frame being now in the desired position, anysuitable cover is placed thereon, thus protecting the animal from the heat, or in wet weather from the rain or snow, an oil-cloth cover being in this latter instance employed.

From what has been said it will be seen that i our invention is extremely simple in construction, and provides a cover or umbrella that can be easily attached to a horse, and that when not in use the same can be so closed as to occupy but a minimum amount of space,

and that the same is easily opened and caused to assu me the desired position in conforming to the outline ofthe horses back.

We claim as our invention- 1. In a support for a horse-cover, a backarch and a series of bows or plates having lazytong connections, the whole being capable of attachment directly to the horses back, as shown and described.

2. In supports for horse covers or umbrellas, the herein-described series of bows or curved plates and the lazytong connections therefor, said bows or plates conforming to the general outline of the horses back, as shown and described. i

3. In supports for horse-covers, the combination of the back arch or plate having the pads secured thereto, the connecting straps or bands, the series of bows or plates, andthe lazy-tong connections, all constructed and arranged substantially'as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the back arch or plate, the pads secured thereto, and the bellyband, of the series of bows or plates, thclazytong connections, and the corresponding plates by which said bows or plates are connected to said backarch, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the back-arch, of the series of bows or plates and the lazy-tong connections, comprising the crossbars, the normally horizontal connecting-arm, and the lever-arm having a iianged end, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, with the back arch or plate, of the U-shaped plates or brackets, the connecting pins, the plates having upper curved ends, the series of bows or plates, and the lazy tong connections secured to said plates, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence ol' two witnesses.

THOMAS A. LONG. SAMUEL P. FILLEY. FREDRICK N. RUGGLES.

Vitnesses:

WM. C. PRICE, AsHER MINER. 

